Piano prodigy on focus and flow

TED | Talks | Jennifer Lin: Magical improv from 14-year-old pianist (video)

This video from the 2004 TED Conference is extraordinary for a few reasons. First, the prepared performances by then-14-year-old composer and pianist Jennifer Lin are lovely and technically very accomplished. And — wow — the improvisation she creates on the spot (16:45) is really something.

But, I also wanted to draw your attention to her thoughts on creativity and flow — discussing how she tries to beat distraction and gain focus in both drawing and composition. Her discussion starts around 13:31, but do stick around after for her improv based upon randomly chosen notes.

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Piano prodigy on focus and flow

Self Improvement: How to change things in your life for the better

change.pngMaking changes, no matter how big or small, can be difficult. Psychology Today has put together the six principles of change that can help you accomplish what needs to be done.

Summed up, they look like this:

1) The belief that you can change is the key to change.
2) The type of treatment is less critical than the individual’s commitment to change.
3) Brief treatments can change longstanding habits.
4) Life skills can be the key to licking addiction.
5) Repeated efforts are critical to changing.
6) Improvement, without abstinence, counts.

Yes, a wee bit Dr.Phil-ish, but still intriguing. What is your principle of change? Please share in the comments.

Six Principles of Change [Psychology Today via SelfHelp Diva]


Self Improvement: How to change things in your life for the better

Taxonomy matters

It is my mission to correctly re-shelve books to the appropriate section of the bookstore. 

For example, “Darwin’s Black Box”, the famous psuedo-science book by the non-evolutionary non-scientist Michael Behe,
should not be in the “Evolutionary Biology” section, but something more
appropriate, such as “New Age”, “Religion”, “Christianity”, or even
“Fiction”.  You get the idea.

Here is more, and the pointer is from the newlywed Jacqueline Passey.

Taxonomy matters

Gratitude tips

These are from the new and noteworthy Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, by Robert Emmons:

1. Keep a Gratitude Journal

2. Remember the Bad

3. Ask Yourself Three Questions (What have I received from…?, What have I given to…?, and What troubles and difficulty have I caused …?

4. Learn prayers of gratitude

5. Come to your senses

6. Use visual reminders

7. Make a vow to practice gratitude

8. Watch your language

9. Go through the motions [of showing gratitude, thanking, smiling, etc.]

10. Think outside the box [TC: this one should have been left out]

I didn’t learn anything from this book, but in terms of both truth and importance it is one of the most significant books you can find.  Ever.  Provided you live enough above subsistence, gratitude is the single most important key to personal happiness.  And how commercial society affects gratitude is one of the great underexplored questions of economic science and sociology.

Gratitude tips

MacGyver Tip: Laminate with clear packing tape

cleartapelaminate.jpg
Reader TB writes in:

I made some wallet-sized schedules for visitors we were hosting at the office. I don’t have easy access to a lamination machine, but I wanted to make them a little sturdier, so I used clear plastic packing tape. Pulled off a long strip, placed the schedule on the sticky side, folded it over so the edges stuck together and then trimmed off the excess.

Neat! Cheap! Easy! Love it. Thanks, TB!


MacGyver Tip: Laminate with clear packing tape

Tip of the Week: Create an Idea Bank

Angela Booth suggests that experienced writers can use journals as their idea banks:

If you’ve been writing for a few years, your journal acts as your idea bank. It’s best to maintain several journals: one for ideas, another for essays, as well as a journal for a long project like a book.

If you’re writing a novel, for example, your journal will keep you “in” the novel, even if you have to leave the project for a week or two.

An idea bank would be helpful for anyone who works with information and ideas. You don’t have to use a paper journal, because there are lots of desktop or online solutions too. You could use a wiki, a note-taking application, a desktop information manager like DevonThink or PersonalBrain, a password-protected blog (to keep your ideas under wraps while they’re gestating), or text files.

How do you capture your ideas?

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Tip of the Week: Create an Idea Bank